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Wetland habitats support a diverse range of flora and fauna, specifically adapted to life in, on or near water. Once wetlands covered a quarter of the British Isles, now estimates put this figure at just over 1%. In the last 50 years, at least half of the ponds in lowland England have disappeared. Since 1945 we have lost 97% of our moist hay meadows and 60% of lowland mires, mostly to land drainage. Many ponds, previously needed for livestock, have been lost due to agricultural changes. They have been allowed to fill in to ease arable farming. However the over-whelming cause of loss of wetlands in this country, is deterioration through neglect. All content copyright © 1986-2008 BTCV Ltd. Registered charity No. 261009 |
